Statin Use and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Incidence and Progression in Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) Trial.

PURPOSE

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease often manifested by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We previously found statins were associated with modest attenuations in prostate growth over time in REDUCE. We tested whether statins were associated with LUTS incidence in asymptomatic men and LUTS progression in symptomatic men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a post-hoc analysis of REDUCE in 3,060 "asymptomatic" men with baseline International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) <8 and in 2,198 symptomatic men with baseline IPSS ≥8 not taking α-blockers or 5α-reductase inhibitors. We used multivariable Cox regression models to assess associations between statin use at baseline and LUTS incidence and progression. Among asymptomatic men, incident LUTS was defined as the first reported medical or surgical treatment for BPH or sustained clinically significant LUTS (2 reports of IPSS >14). Among symptomatic men, LUTS progression was defined as IPSS increase ≥4 points from baseline, any surgical procedure for BPH, or initiation of a BPH drug.

RESULTS

Among asymptomatic and symptomatic men, 550 (18%) and 392 (18%) used statins at baseline, respectively. On multivariable analysis, statin use was not associated with LUTS incidence (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.78-1.41, p=0.74) in asymptomatic men, or with LUTS progression (HR 1.13; 95% CI 0.96-1.33, p=0.15) in symptomatic men. Similar results were seen in the dutasteride and placebo arms when stratified by treatment assignment.

CONCLUSIONS

In REDUCE, statin use was not associated with either incident LUTS in asymptomatic men or LUTS progression in symptomatic men. These data do not support a role for statins in LUTS prevention or management.